Railway hopper car construction



0d; 1937. E. R. S6HROEDER RAILWAY HOPPER CAB CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 19, 1937 s Sheets-Sheet '1 INVENTOR 77265? Scfimeder ATTORNEY Oct. 5, 1 937. E. R. SCHROEDER I 2,094,967

RAILWAY HOPPER CAR CbNSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 19, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR [magi if. Sfimeder I M402 ATTORNEY Oct. 5, 1937. E. R. SCI-VIROEDER 2,094,967

RAILWAY HOPPER CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 19, 1957 :s Sheets-Shet 5 INVENTOR 577212.32 R Scfimeder ATTORNEY 62m 1 f k Patented Oct 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,094,967 RAILWAY HOPPER CAR CONSTRUCTION Application February 19, 1937, Serial No. 126,533

9 Claims. (Cl. -307) This invention relates generally to railway hopper car constructions and has particular reference to means for controlling discharge of lad- The present invention contemplates certain improvements in the construction shown in copending application of William F. Dietrichson and Victor Willoughby, Serial No. 721,674, filed April 21, 1934, and now Patent No. 2,073,513, issued March 9, 1937, particularly with regard to the operating mechanism for the discharge valve of the hopper.

One object of the present. invention is the provision of a railway hopper car having'a hopper outlet controlled by a valve movable vertically with relation to the outlet in combination with valve operating means supported by car parts.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a railway hopper car having a hopper outlet controlled by a valve movable vertically with relation to the outlet, together with means for operating said valve in such a manner that the degree of outlet opening may be regulated as desired to accurately and nicely control the discharge of lading from the hopper.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a railway hopper car having a discharge outlet which is normally closed by a valve, said valve being movable in substantially vertical direction to open and close the hopper, together with valve rod means which extends upwardly through the ridge sheet of the hopper into engagement with a gear mechanism supported by the ridge sheet and operable from the side of the car to regulate or control movement of the valve rod, and hence the valve.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a railway hopper car having a discharge outlet and a valve normally closing the latter, a valve operating means which is substantially wholly concealed yet arranged within the interior of the car body and, being substantially wholly concealed, is practically dust-proof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a broken sectional view through a hopper car embodying the present invention, the left hand portion of the-figure being taken adjacent the car bolster. while the right hand portion of the figure is taken through the hopper.

Fig. 2 is a broken sectional view of a portion of a car showing a portion of the hopper the upper end of the tube 44 and into a gear with the valve, and. the operating means for the valve; the View also showing certain required parts of a railway car.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3-3, Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the gear casing cap.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the present invention is shown as applied to a railway car having an underframe including center sills 2, side sills 4, side Walls 6 and a roof 8 supported by side plates Ill. The car body is provided with a plurality of hoppers, only one of which is shown in the drawings, the same being indicated at H, having slope sheets I2, to the lower edge portion of which is secured a discharge casting or housing 14 similar in construction to the housing shown in the beforementioned Dietrichson and Willoughby application. As shown, the housing [4 is preferably attached to the slope sheets l2 by being welded to the latter as shown at It, but obviously the housing may be riveted or otherwise secured if desired. The housing comprises a one-piece casting having a reduced upper end portion formed with the flange l8 and a lower enlarged portion 20 having guide ribs 22 projecting radially inwardly of said housing and so arranged as tobe contacted by the marginal edge portion of valve body 24. The Valve body 24 is adapted to close the discharge outlet and seal the same against leakage and is adapted to engage a valve seat 26 formed in the body 20. In the instance shown in the drawings, the valve seat 26 is of resilient material retained in place by a keeper 28 secured by suitable fasteners 30 to the reduced portion l4 of housing 20 but obviously the valve seat may be formed of the material forming the housing, if

desired. 7

The valve body 24 is carried by a valve stem 40 32 extending upwardly from said valve body and having itslower end portion 34 extended through the valve body 24 at substantially the center thereof and retained by a securing nut 36. The valve stem or rod 32 extends upwardly through an adjustable guide 38 secured as by fasteners 4b to a flange member 42 secured to the lower end portion of a tube or pipe 44 welded as at 46 to the bottom center sill cover plate 48. The pipe 44 extends upwardly through center sill top cover plate 5.8 and also through the upper portion of the ridge sheet 52 secured to the center sills 2 in any suitable or desired manner. As shown clearly in Fig. 2, the valve rod 32 extends beyond 7 housing G comprising an annular side wwalll'd,

housing and; as clearlyshown, the upper end 7 portion of said rod 32 jisthrea'ded at 62 and has a bottom wall 56with'divergingattaching flanges {58'depending from saidbottom wall'l56 and rest-. ing upon theridge sheetsii and secured tothe latter in any suitable or desired m'ann'er as by. beingwelded at 60. 'l he bottom' wall 56 of the; gear housing G is apertured solthat the upper end'portion of thefroda32 may project into said a' gear 64 engaged "therewith." GearjAis pro vided with a hub 66' which rests upona thick;

7 'en'e'd portion 768' ofthebottdm aIIISBQs aid thick-f:

-ened portion constitutingi aigear support, J'I'he upper end portion of the rod ifll is 'reduced'i ri dia' ameter and is threaded' to receive a holding nut; j the upper end, portiono i saidrrod 32 pro jectingfint'ofa guide IZ-ffOImBd OH the interior of and depending from 'a gear housing :lcap 314- 20 ,threadedly'secured to the gear housing body porcap ms provided'ivith a pluralityof recesses or ':iedge'rportlon offthe wall 54L V 2. The' outer e pro ecting err threaded to'sepure'a-cap 1 4O exposeg thefsqu ared 96 of the rod '84 for the attaohmentlof; aoranl; or operating handle Arranged within-the sleeve 86 adjacent the wallr is a bearlngg I00 which supports the'outer end" portio' "of fthelshaftfl, as cle' all yi shown'in V 2 andfi jlfhe pinion-82 bears against the inner '1 su rfabe of the side gwall fl; of the gear housing 'the reduoed endiportionlflt ofthe shaft 84 To 7 rranged thereon;andsecuredfagainst; displace; m'entbyial pin l 08 ;;the collar i ffs's d diwit bu ide s a lading, oap i9j4 squared end 9610f shaft- 54;

' ithe valve rod, 3; torlowerfltheryalve body. u to L @permitjdischa' ee of ila'di g; lDu in e v 1 menu of'ithegvalve 'zl it-'is 'guidedbyfthe'ribs 22 V iand further bytheguidelLwhioh depends from the; tape of the; gear housing G." Reversaliof valve itto seated position}; jflhe'drawings h'ere'in ustr rod tion; as sho'wn at s shown in "Fig.1 4, the

V and through'the side wall :6 o'fjthe' oar my and is preferably welded to,thelatter'as-shown at 92.7

fpre'vent. shifting 1b: the shart-at 2, 01151 lore is 11115 having bearing holder 'i U0 seoured to the side 'ndi te enerally has andlwith suit biq in ernal fcross 'bra'o'es i'j'f and=with hopper braces rotationof'the shaft -willlobviouslyrreturn the V V V V g V 7 d ,g; valve rod, a pinion engaged;w1th ,:sa dgeanna':7 7 V ateoriejembodiment" g 7 ofi 'the inventionbut; obviously theyi are merely;

by' waygof examplez'and various 'changes' in the iorz'nand proportions o fithe device'may be made 'w it'hin the scope of "the appehded' 'claims-with-.

. indentations 18 adapted to receive "a wrenoh or other" suitable tool. whereby the car may be se icu'r'ed or released from'the body portion of the I; gear housing- G. 1FOi's'ealing purposes a gasket 80 is interposed between'the cap ldrand the upper Th gea :04 is engaged by a inion 532' secured withina sleeve 8 6,-the inner endjportion of :which "is secured toga coupling-t8 attached- .to a tubular SH-projctihglaterallyiromthe: sidewall 54 fj of the gear-housing? all; as" clearlyfshown' in Fig.7

7 guide means therei i a: threaded upper end port (seeFiggl2lfand'ispreferably keyed as' at "I02 to Y V out departingfrom thespirit ofvthe invention. 7' f; .tWhat is claimed is: i V 1. In a railway hopper car including side walls, d 7

center sills and a 'ridge sheet over said center" l sil ls, af h opper outlet arrangement comprising as d valve 'body normally 'closingfthe'hopper against J :T r discharge of lading; 2. valve 'rod extending upwardlythrough and beyond the ridge sheet, a

gear housingsupported on the ridge sheet into which the valve rod projects, gearing in'said l0 housing and connected'to the valve rod to shift Qthelatter in upward and downward directionsto shift the valvebody'relative to the hopper outlet, gear actuating/means extending through the g V .sidelwallgofrthe car; and means within the gear 5 v housingto restrain'the valverodagainst rotation uponoperation of'the gearing.

2. 111 ra'railway-hopper Vcarhaving side walls,

.center sills and a ridgesheet mounted on the :center' sills, a hopper outlet arrangement room prising a valve body normally closing th'eghopper against discharge oflading, a'valve rod extending upwardly from the valve body and projecting beyond the ridge sheet, means enclosing a. sub stantial part of theivalverod and'having-valve rod guiding means at its lower endportiQ'nQa gear I- housing' supported :on the 'ridgesheet; gearing inf I said housing for operating'saidvalve rod to'shift the valve body relative to the hopperoutlet, valve 5' Y o rod guiding meansinth gear housing soformed :3 asto restra'in the-valve rodag'ains'trotat ion duf- "ing operation of the gearing, and actuatinglmea'ns I for saidgearingextendingthrough and'supported by the sidewall of the'car ;1 i=5 3. In arailwayhopperoana hopper outlet art- 7 rangementcomprising a Irarnefseouredfio the hopperz'at its 0utlet pdifti0n and plfovided with v n,fa valvebodyjnsaidi'frame and'guidedinits movements bysaidguide m'eans;;;

fsaid frame having a valve seat: with which the f r valve body'normally cooperates to close thehop 1 P f t l per against'discharge oflading' agvalve rod V i j tending upwardly'from the valvejbody and having d a a substantially I V 3 closed gear housing supportedwithin the ladingj r zone of the body'and'having gearing;enclosed-j V thereinengaged'with thelthreaded portion of the i valve irod, saidfhousi inc uding'fa cap having gujide means formed therewithandiwithwhichfyond the sidewall of the'oar. d it 1 14. In a railway hopper car includingside-walls;= 4

a'mean's ifor guiding said valvefbody'iriitsfmovea 7 v V d U V w H jjments, avalveirod extending upwardlyfromthe 6 isremovedand the handle9ajis'attached to thef' Rotation of shaft V V V o V lmeans'forfa" substantial part of the valve'vrod 8 4 will:ohviouslyirotate the geari 64 to actuate i mounted" on; the ridge sheet and havingappearfing' 'on the upper :end portion of the enclosing V rangement soorr'iprising rgag valvefrhody;normally? thejupperjend portion of said valyeirod is engaged in such a manner as to be restrained f against'rotation and gear aotuatingjmeans ex 7 tending from the gear housingrrthroughand'be a:

o enter'sills and'a' ridge sheet a hopper outlet ari-f V V closing the hopper: against discharge ofi ladingj V valve flbody beyond the "ridge j sheet; 7 enclosing supportedlbyithe center sills, a "gear housing meansgsaidvalve rod having itsiup per en'dfpor-i' 7 tion threadedyan 'actuatedgear in'the gear housg j L ing engagediwith, the threaded DOIItiOII' Of thB pinion' shaft extending through and'beyohdithe V :pinionl shaft, and guide eans ivrithin, tn gear? housing into which the upper:v endiportion' of th'e'j 7 valve rod extends in 'suoh'fa manner as to be T615775 strained against rotation upon actuation of the gearing.

5. In a railway hopper car including side walls, center sills and a ridge sheet supported on the center sills, a hopper outlet arrangement comprising a valve body normally closing the outlet, guide means for the valve body arranged below the outlet, a valve rod extending upwardly from the valve body through and beyond the ridge sheet, the upper end portion of said valve rod being threaded, a gear housing supported on the ridge sheet and having gearing therein engaged with the threaded portion of the valve rod, a housing detachably secured to the gear housing and provided with a depending guide member into which the upper end portion of the valve is arranged in such a manner as to be restrained against rotation during operation of the gearing, gear actuating means extending through the side wall of the car, and means enclosing the gear actuating means and at least a substantial portion of the valve rod.

6. In a railway hopper car having a center sill ridge sheet and side walls, the combination with a valve body normally closing said hopper, of actuating means for said valve body comprising a valve rod extending upwardly through and beyond the ridge sheet and having a threaded upper end portion, a gear housing mounted on the ridge sheet and having gearing therein cooperating with the valve rod, gear actuating means supported by the gear housing and by the side wall of the car, and guide means within the gear housing with which the valve rod is engaged in such a manner as to be restrained against rotation during operation of said gearing.

7. In a railway hopper car having center sills and a ridge sheet supported thereon, the combination with a valve body normally closing the hopper, of actuating means for said valve body comprising a valve rod extending upwardly 7 against rotation during actuation of said gearing.

8. In arailway hopper car having side walls and center sills, a ridge sheet supported on said center sills, a valve body normally closing said hopper, valve actuating means comprising a valve rod extending upwardly from said valve body through and beyond the ridge sheet and being threaded at its upper end portion, a gear housing mounted on the ridge sheet, gearing 00- operating with said valve rod concealed within said housing, gear actuating means supported by said housing and a side wall of the car, said gear housing including a cap formed with guide means depending therefrom with which the upper end portion of said valve rod is engaged in such a manner as to be restrained against rotation during operation of said gearing.

9. In a railway hopper car having center sills and a hopper outlet, a valve body normally closing said outlet, a valve rod extending upwardly from said valve body through and beyond said center sills and being threaded at its upper end portion, means for shifting said valve rod to operate said valve body including gearing cooperating with said valve rod, and a housing substantially enclosing said gearing supported on said center sills, said housing being provided with a cap formed with guide means depending therefrom and with which the valve rod is associated in such a manner as to be restrained against rotation during actuation of said gearing.

ERNEST R. SCI-IRQEDER. 

